Leena Yadav is part of a new breed of Indian directors who combine traditional stories and storytelling with cutting edge production values. Based in Mumbai, India, Yadav moves between many roles in the film industry: writer, editor, producer and director. She started her journey making commercials and corporate films. She made many successful television programs across a wide range of genres, including the first-ever reality show on Indian television, Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hai, with well-known actress Madhuri Dixit. In 2004 she moved into the film world, writing, directing and editing the controversial feature film Shabd (2005), starring Sanjay Dutt and Aishwarya Rai. The groundbreaking film explored themes of the psychology of love, marriage, creativity and freedom. Yadav both wrote and directed her second film, the emotionally riveting thriller Teen Patti (2010). Set in India and England, it starred two acting legends, Amitabh Bachchan and Academy Award® winner Sir Ben Kingsley.
The Asia Pacific Screen Academy expresses its respect for and acknowledgement of the South East Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of country, including the custodial communities on whose land works are created and celebrated by the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. We acknowledge the continuing connection to land, waters and communities. We also pay our respects to Elders, past and emerging. We recognise the integral role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and First Nations peoples continue to play in storytelling and celebration spaces.
